Again, Nigerian tennis stars crash out of Governor’s cup

Nigeria’s best seem unable to compete with their counterparts all over the world.

Nigeria’s elite tennis players were again confirmed not good enough for the world stage as they were eliminated in the second leg of the Governor’s Cup Tennis Tournament on Wednesday. A similar ouster had occurred in the first leg.

Nigeria’s number one male player, Shehu Lawal, failed to shine as he was sent packing by tournament’s number three seed, Kento Takeuchi, a Japanese, in straight sets of 6-1, 6-1.

Number two seed, South African Ruan Roelofse beat Nigeria’s Clifford Enosoregbe 6-1, 6-1; while Sanni Adamu lost to Sherif Sabry of Egypt 1-6, 6-3, 2-6.

It was a similar scenario in the women’s category as top seed in the Women’s Singles defeated Fatimah Abinu in straight sets of 6-1, 6-0. Blessing Anuna also bowed to South African Chanel Simmonds in 0-6, 1-6 game.

In order results, Number one seed in the Men’s Singles advanced to the next round at the expense of Egyptian Karim Hossam whom he defeated in straight sets of 6-1, 7-5 to set up a quarter final duel with Lopex Perez of Spain on Thursday.

Egypt’s Karim Mohammed Maamoun was able to scale the hurdle of Zimbabwe’s Mark Fynn in straight sets of 7-6, 6-1.

In the Women’s Singles, Madagascar teenager, Zarah Razafimahatratra lost to Chinese Jia-Jing Lu 3-6, 1-6. Swiss Conny Perrin defeated Slovak Anja Prislan 6-2, 6-2 while Tadeja Majeric of Slovakia beat Alexandra Romanova of Russia 6-1, 6-1 to set up a quarter final match against China’s Lu

Meanwhile, the management of the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, LLTC, has applauded the standard of the ongoing 2012 Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Club.

The President of the club, Sam Egbuchunam, said that all members of the LLTC are glad to be part of the success story of the ITF pro circuit sponsored by FCMB Plc and Etisalat Nigeria this year, adding that the club ensures that it put in place world class facilities for the Local Organising Committee, LOC, to run a smooth championship.

“Part of what we did in the beginning was to ensure that we had a Grand Slam arena ready for this year’s Governor’s Cup and I’m glad that even the foreign players and their parents testified to what they seen this year of the facilities at the club,” Mr. Egbuchunam said.

“I believe that the foreign players we spread the good news of the Governor’s Cup that Lagos is a friendly city with good people,” he added, saying more people will be attracted to the 13th edition of the Governor’s Cup next year.